IB Newsletter - Alexander Mackenzie High School March 2026
Dear Parents/Guardians:
I hope you are doing well. In this newsletter, you will find important information and updates regarding the IB Programme at Alexander Mackenzie High School.
Using AI as a tool
AI is an emerging tool that is widely used in our daily life. From the IB standpoint, AI is a great tool for
collecting ideas and brainstorming. “The IB will not ban the use of AI software. The simplest reason is that it is
an ineffective way to deal with innovation.” (IBO, Feb 2025) What is more important is that students will need to
keep in mind about academic integrity when using new technologies, including AI.
“Students should be aware that the IB does not regard any work produced—even only in part—by such tools,
to be their own. Therefore, as with any quote or material from another source, it must be clear that
AI-generated text, image or graph included in a piece of work, has been copied from such software. The software must be credited in the body of the text and appropriately referenced in the bibliography...” (IBO, Feb 2025)
Please kindly remind your child to be aware of academic honesty. The standard of academic honesty is upheld
in high school and beyond. Our teachers use various tools to investigate potential suspicious plagiarism
Situations.
Gr. 9 and Gr. 10 Preparatory Program
The IB Council organized a topic-specific meeting for Grade 9 and 10 students in our Preparatory Programme. During the session, our senior IB students answered questions and provided clarification on topics raised by the Grade 9 and 10 students.
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The IB Council is also organizing an IB Social on Friday, March 6, 2026, after school. The event will include karaoke and a potluck, providing a fun opportunity for students to connect and socialize. Your child can check the corresponding Google Classroom for more details about the event.
DP1 - Extended Essay Process
Thank you to Ms. Katherine Bruzzese, our Extended Essay (EE) Coordinator, for monitoring and guiding our DP1 students through the EE process. There have been several Lunch and Learn opportunities organized to support students along the way.
On March 5 during Period 3, students participated in a session focused on effective research strategies, where they learned how to conduct proper academic research using various academic journal databases.
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For DP1 and DP2 students: Here is the IB Exam Schedule for this year
IB Exams are standardized examinations. Students within the same time zone write the same exam at the same time worldwide. As a result, the scheduled exam dates and times cannot be adjusted.
If a student is unable to write an exam on the scheduled date, DP1 students may have the opportunity to make up the exam during the November examination session. However, this option is typically not available for DP2 students, as many of them will have already begun their university studies by that time.
Please note that failing to write an IB examination may result in failing the course and not earning the IB Diploma.
Thank you for your continued support of the IB Programme at AMHS. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Benjamin Law (benjamin.law@yrdsb.ca)
IB Coordinator, Alexander Mackenzie High School, York Region District School Board
905-884-0554 ext 419